Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Kids

Anna Quindlen’s Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Kids, is a short essay that goes in depth about children living in poverty in America. Quindlen provides well researched evidence that supports her essay. She gives statistics such as, “Twenty years ago New York City provided emergency shelter for just under a thousand families a day; last month it had to find spaces for 10,000 children on a given night” (316). Throughout Quindlen’s essay, she compares evidence from twenty years ago to modern day. This supports her essay because she is stressing the importance of the increasing amount of homeless children living in poverty. Another example of Quindlen comparing evidence is when she states, “Twenty years ago, when the story of the homeless in America became a staple of news reporting, the solution was presented as a simple one: affordable housing” (317). Here Quindlen states a possible solution to her essay, but never discusses it further. This weakens her argument because she constantly discusses the issue of homeless children, but she never leaves the audience with a resolution. Quindlen’s entire essay focuses on homeless children in America, but she never comes to a conclusion. She makes statements such as, “So now you know,” and “What would it mean, to spend your childhood drifting from one strange bed to another…” (318). Her sympathetic tone comes off strong towards her audience members, and it weakens her argument because she comes off somewhat forceful.
Quindlen is convincing with all of her supporting evidence towards homeless children. I agree with her essay, although it is not very strong. I was never aware of how severe the poverty level is among children. It would have strengthen Quindlen’s essay if she provided a conclusion and a solution to this issue. Her audience members would probably be more eager to help these children, if a solution was provided. I know that I would be convinced in helping these children, since she provided such a strong sympathetic tone. I feel as though there is not much to say about my opinion of her essay. Since it is basically informative, I feel a simple agree and disagree are the only statements that could be made. If Quindlen provided a resolution then readers could go more in depth about how exactly they would handle this issue. Overall, Quindlen provided good evidence, and forced sympathy on her audience. However, if she wanted her audience to take action towards this issue based on her essay, then she should of included a resolution.